Making Sense of a United Ireland
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2023
- A united Ireland is among the most contentious issues in Irish and Northern Irish politics. At times during the past century, the idea united Ireland has seemed impossible or been dismissed as romantic but unrealistic. However, in recent years, the outcome of the Brexit referendum, changing demographics in Northern Ireland, and the electoral success of nationalism in Northern Ireland’s most recent elections have reinvigorated the debate around Irish unity, and whether, how, and when it should happen. In his most recent book, Making Sense of a United Ireland, Professor Brendan O’Leary, a global expert on the politics of divided places, explains how unification could happen, sets out potential models of a united Ireland, and analyses the economics and politics of Irish unity. In this keynote address to the IIEA, Professor O’Leary addresses questions of preparation and strategy in the light of public opinion North and South.
About the Speaker:
Brendan O'Leary is the Lauder Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania and a Visiting Professor of Political Science at Queen’s University, Belfast. He is the author, co-author, and co-editor of thirty books and collections, and he has written extensively on the Northern Ireland conflict. Professor O’Leary also is a founding member of ARINS (Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South) programme at the Royal Irish Academy. Professor O’Leary’s three-volume study, A Treatise on Northern Ireland, received the James S. Donnelly Sr. best book prize of the American Conference on Irish Studies in 2020, and he is the inaugural winner of the Juan Linz prize of the International Political Science Association for contributions to the study of multinational societies, federalism and powersharing. Professor O’Leary has also been a political and constitutional advisor to the United Nations, the European Union, the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, the Governments of the UK and Ireland, and to the British.
Recorded on the 5th of July 2023
United in nationhood
Hi,
Thanks for this conference but i regret that the slides which were displaid in the room are not embedded in the video.
I feel strongly that if the UK, Republic, the USA and Europe fund the transition generously for the initial first ten years of re-unification, many objections among those sceptical of unity will fall away.
The condition that Ireland leaves the EU with secure borders, take back the high value fisheries € 200/€300 lost since joining the EU. All foreign people constripted and auctioned online to recoup the costs since they arrived here, most of them illegal. Thank you for supporting a new Ireland, free of the EU and it's masses of immigrants, equality for everyone on the Island.
Demographics is Destiny.
Britain control the borders, and immigration could offset nationalist growth through birth rate
Unionists need to realize that a United Ireland is inevitable.
They now have the power to steer how their interests can best be served in a United Ireland.
There are many models of how Northern Ireland can be governed within an all-island framework.
not going to happen stop going on about its a distraction from whats happening in the rest of irland called invasion of our republic
You still haven’t told us how you are going to pay for it?
How are you paying for the ROI now@@joemdee
@@edwardandrews4087 I’m not paying for RoI. Now or ever!
Then don't be worried about how we are going to pay for it. Like every other Nation on earth, we will get by@@joemdee
How can we look at the table on the screen.? David McCabe dublin
Your right of course
Engagement of communities at street level where we can hear the hopes, fears and creative input in terms of uniting the island, seems an obvious step. This is not to persuade but to hear the genuine concerns of those facing change
That logo looks like IKEA !
My effort at a new anthem for a federal Ireland :
A LAND FOR ALL
(To the tune of The Danny Boy)
A Land for all,
A land of myth and history,
From north to south and sea to crashing sea.
We all have come from many different places,
And made our Home in this dear isle of green.
We’ll show the world that we can come together,
And live in peace, and live in harmony.
We’ll be a Light unto all the nations,
Affirming Peace,
Affirming Love-
A Land for All.
ÁR dTÍR DO CHÁCH
Ar dtír do chách,
Tír álainn trí na chéile,
Ó thuaidh ‘s ó dheas gach cearn de Fhódhla dhil.
As iomaí áit a tháinig muid thar sáile,
Is chuir muid fúinn ‘nár oileán álainn glas.
Taispeánfaimid ár ngean don chine daonna,
Ag maireachtáil go sona muinteartha.
Is ina lasair do gach uile náisiún,
Ag deimhnigh síthe,
Ag deimhnigh grá -
Ár dtír do chách.
Crap
@@fintonmainz7845 Go raibh maith agat as an bhfreagra chruin sin!! Bheadh amhrán náisiúnta le haon fhocal amháin "Crap" an suimiúil. Hí hí 😉
@@seansean6604 maith an buqchail
Is there anyone in Ireland who does not believe that the EU is an undiluted good? I have never heard an Irish person express the view that an alternative to membership is even possible, never mind favourable.
There are strong feelings against ever deeper federalism.
R. O. I left the United Kingdom to be sovereign. Then joined the EEC which is morphing into Federal bureaucracy feeding on sovereignty.
SF was always fairly anti EU ( campaigned against Lisbon treaty for instance ) It is playing nice now as the DUP was in favour of Brexit so obviously they needed to take the opposite position and they hope to come to power in Dublin so will need coalition partners who are all pro EU , but they don't like it and nor do a lot of there voters
I'm Irish, and staunchly anti-EU. I only know one other Irish person who is of the same mind.
@@SapientSpaceApe your not alone mate. Plenty of friends across the Irish Sea. ❤️
What has just happened in Nagorno Karabakh shows what will happen if the Union is ever lost , maybe not so quickly , but where is the Unionist community in The Free State today ? There were plenty in the 26 counties in 1922
Not really "plenty" the Irish unionist party was basically non existent outside of Dublin in the present day ROI. Unionists either got on with their lives in the Republic or moved to NI. Massive % of the newly founded RUC were catholic unionists for proof of that.
@@lassmichruhe Nope there were Plenty in the 26 counties , In the 3 remaining counties of Ulster and Dublin the party did put up candidates and got a percentage of the vote exceeding the Protestant population . Where I live (Kerry ) the SF candidate was unopposed ( like in a lot of Munster as basically the Republicans had already started intimidation and ethnic cleansing ) but there were Independent Councillor's later Farmers party , who would have rather not have split the country and enjoyed civil war and 80 years of economic backwardness . In the '80s a chap called Stan Gebler Davis stood as a Unionist in South Cork , he got very few votes . but a number of Old people told me that had it been 30 years early they might have given it a go !
they are called fine gael
@@tomtomftube True that any one remaining , like me for instance, would most likely vote FG . However it is a party that Grow out of Irish Nationalism not Unionism and its founders were on the whole violent Republican's It mopped up southern Unionist support simply by being less awful than alternatives
@@5888max violence is legitimate against a foreign aggressor. the brits created the IRA, there never would have been an IRA if sometime in an enlightened era of say the mid to late 19th century the brits withdrew completely from all 32 counties they never had a right and still dont have a right to claim irish territory. if an irish person attacks a british soldier on irish soil it is not terrorism
Didn't Star Trek TNG predict in the 1980s Irish unification by 2016? What went wrong?!
The date Star Trek used was 2024
Star Trek?
What went wrong?! .. It called the British Empire ...
Blame the klingons.
@@windowman929 May the force be with you, always ! ☘
I don't want an NHS style healthcare system - I prefer the system we have in Ireland. The NHS is getting worse and worse and standards are going down the drain. The NHS is good for GP care but for specialist care particularly cancer care the Irish system is WAY better.
I personally would emmigrate if Ireland joined the British commonwealth - I could never live with the British commonwealth. I firmly believe in the values of Liberty, equality and fraternity - I am firmly a Republican, and could never live under a monarchy and would rather raise my kids in North Korea than within the British commonwealth!
So agree HSE is infinitely better than the NHS in my experience . People can,t get over that it,s worth paying for healthcare seemingly
So you'd rather raise your family in North Korea than in Canada, Australia or New Zealand.
Presumably the same applies to European monarchies like Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain etc etc.
Ireland is partitioned because of lunatics like yourself.
I think it's because most people have not paid for health care in the six counties and do not understand the HSE health care system, insurance etc. More clarity is needed to assuage fears in that regard.
@@matthewbrady1562 Believe it or not the vast majority of people in Ireland don't pay for health care either. Those people who can afford to pay they pay but if your income falls below a threshold or if you suffer from serious illness or your over a certain age or under a certain age then you don't pay. Most of the problems in the HSE come from common issues like for example you need to see a dermatologist for a skin issue, you have back or joint pain or you need cataract surgery where a lot of people suffer or will suffer from issues like these. Because the majority of people don't pay whatsoever all those people join a line more or less to get seen which can take a long time and they grow frustrated. So if you can afford to you pay insurance so you can visit a private hospital and get seen much quicker. If everyone paid private insurance then the opposite would be the case and there would be no waiting in the public system. I don't like the NHS simply because the government slots a sum of money to the NHS and regardless of any circumstances the sum of money needs to pay for everything. People whether they're billionaires or living in a door way nobody contributes which I think is wrong - I think if you can afford to you should contribute more and that way Hospitals get more and everyone is looked after better. The issues now with the NHS is that the UK government doesn't have the money to afford the NHS after Brexit so things are getting tighter and tighter which will bring up serious faults in the system. The NHS also because of this has a much higher rate of healthcare accidents and medical negligence than the HSE
@paulfitzpatrick "I don't want an NHS style healthcare syste..." Ironically, 3 of the countries to which you are most likely to emigrate are members of the Commonwealth of Nations (Not British Commonwealth). There are 55 members of which 15 recognise the British Crown as their head of state, 36 are Republics and 4 others have their own monarchies. The Republic of Ireland is easily accommodated.
The Northern Irish simply don't care, they leave the Irish republicans to rewrite history to create this fantasy Ireland that never existed, but justifies their obsessive behaviour. Irish history is much more interesting than the Irish republican fantasised version, but doesn’t fit their narrative. The actual, factual, non-politicised history of Ireland does exist, and isn’t hard to find, I recommend that everyone looks it up, but it will be uncomfortable reading for some, which is why they don’t do it.
In spite of all the attacks on our country, Ulster, it still exists, which is enough for the Northern Irish. We are happy to leave proxy Irish republicans and proxy British to slug it out in public as long as Ulster is safe.
As the most important group in Northern Irish politics, recognition of our 31% existence in Northern Ireland, second only to those identifying as British, outside of Northern Ireland would be nice. Unfortunately yet more evidence that the Northern Irish continue to be victims of ethnic cleansing by both our neighbours.
Equality monitoring forms?? Reports?
At 850+ years duration, the 'Irish Problem' must be Europe's longest unresolved ethno-religious abuse cases (I won't call it 'conflict') overdue resolution by the abuser withdrawing totally.
Leaving a vulnerable minority at your mercy ? After all those years it is pointless to try and claim some people have no right to live in there own country . Ulster Prods have lived in Ireland longer than most Canadians , Americans have resided in there current nations - Think on the native Americans might send you back to Devon , where you will find other people now living there
@@5888max What are you talking about?. Everyone will be welcome in a united ireland, we're not going to treat protestants like 2nd class citizens like we were treated, that would make us hypocrites, and we irish maybe angry foul mouthed drunkards and I can say it as I am a irish man born and bread in bheal fierste (Belfast) but, were not hypocrites, we gotta move on from britain, we gotta have a say in how our country is funded and ran and i think a 32 county nation would be class cara
The words "I am Irish" can have very different meanings when spoken by two different "Irish" people.
@@MD9790 I'm assuming you are directing that Assinine statement or question or whatever that was to me? . I'm also assuming you're either a protestant who assumes that because of religion or the way people of your religion treated people of my religion wrongly in the past that in-case of unification where some how going to turn the tables on you and people of your religion?. which is frankly ridiculous, as religion isn't top of the agenda on most reasonable thinking people and certainly not on my or most Irish peoples agenda or you're a free-Stater that sees anyone from the north as British even if they were born with an Irish identity or as a trouble maker or a burden. Which goes to show that most people in the north work for a living, pay tax against our will to a foreign Government and have to go up against a foreign law system. All I want is the unification of my country. Also, Unity of all our people and not have to pay through the nose like people do north and south particularly south at the moment , is that too much to ask?
Local politics?
Irish unity now!
Excellent,: stunned that anyone still believes in the NHS , health system In the Republic is so much better .
NONSENSE !!
Try getting a hip replacement in the north, they wait till you die before they offer you one
7:45 10:23
I'd like to see an united Ireland but eire as part of the uk, our people are so joined by migration it's impossible to separate us
Impossible. You can't colonise a country and expect them to voluntarily join you after they win freedom. I truely believe a united Ireland and Great Britain can become the best of friends and even allies. We have so much shared history. With the UK out of the EU, let us grow closer than ever before. Lets put the past behind us. I think this all depends on the unionists. It's sad because they are Irish as well, we would accept them with no issues or discrimination, they could form their own unionist identity or party if they would like and be represented fully in local county council elections. This is something they need to see as a positive and not a betrayal of their identity like their political parties and history would lead them to believe. They would be starting a brand new future in a new Ireland, rather than clinging onto an empire of the past, an idea that is not relevant in the 21st century
I would like to see a union between Britain and Ireland to form a Greater Ireland.
That is all.
10:22 Wow CNR electoral majority within a decade. RIP union.
The Dublin government would have to live up to what it signed up to in the GFA.
Remember, the United Irishmen 1798 were 'United' in common cause, Presbyterian and other Non-Conformist Faiths, Anglican as well as RC. Granting Non-RC folk some more liberties & privileges wedged the 'united' front, condemning the country to the leprous sectarianism that festered ever since.
that's one way of looking at it. Another way is they where beat and the winners condemned the country into leprous sectarianism.
Never the less the Dublin government have made commitments in the GFA that they should live up to, or they will be no better than the British. Over 90% backed those commitments in the GFA referendum@@noelryan6341
Missed having diagrams We can do better
This should be titled republican nonsense!
1. He fails to mention anything about Northern Ireland’s public sector that makes up 30% of Northern Ireland’s working population and growing why would they vote to potentially lose their job
2.if the Republic took on said public sector it costs 13 billion a year to run and also growing
3. 17% of Northern Ireland receives state pensions can the Republic afford to take that on
4 the Republic currently have 1 of the highest debt per head in the world
5. The Republic has just signed up to the eu migration pect unionists/nationalists in the north will want nothing to do with it and the Republic are currently getting charged 20,000 a head for every migrant they don’t take in
6.why would people give up dual nationality when they can have both passports
7.Northern Ireland due to the protocol are getting the best of both worlds when it comes to trade with the eu and the uk why would businesses want to gamble on a utd Ireland working
8. Before anyone mentions sovereign wealth fund the Republic need to spend an extra 8 billion a year just to keep public services at current level, they’ve got a housing crisis and people living in tents,just announced that there paying for new railway lines costing 35 billion with Northern Ireland only paying for a quarter of the cost
9. A utd Ireland is heavily reliant on the eu funding and with the current state of play there could be a few countries holding referendum’s to leave pretty soon ie Holland,Italy,Hungry,Poland throwing eu into chaos
10. He also fails to mention that yes unionists have lost seats to Sinn Fein but conveniently leaves out that the unionists vote is split due to the unionists people being sick of the parties ie dup & uup hence the surge in the alliance party but they aren’t any less unionist and it would show in the case of a border poll. Also what’s happening to unionists in the north is happening to Sinn Fein in the Republic their losing support everyday and rely on the green & blue policies in the Northern Ireland to stay relevant
If Britain can't bring democracy to the north they should leave
You can’t force democracy on two groups of people who share no middle ground.
In a United Ireland there would be democracy, whether or not unionist participate@@dek123
Your religion is not stated on your birth certificate.
My Ideal Ireland:
Official name: Irish Republic
National anthem: God save Ireland
National flag: Green harp
National Parliament: Irish Houses of Parliament, 2 college green
Official languages Irish, English and Ulster Scots
Street signage in Irish English and Ulster Scots
All those things ( well Irelands call as the anthem ) are available no need to force every body into new country
@@5888max my ideal Ireland is not 'forcing' its my ideal obiously not will likely happen
@@FionanOMurchadha The point I was trying to make was that you have that ideal if you wish , things like flags and names are what you want really , I would say my flag is St. Patricks Cross ( not that I object to your Green harp) But if people like the Union flag or the Tricolour that is fine it is only them trying to force it on others that is a problem . Same with Languages (,although as we nearly all speak English as a first Language ( and I live in Gaeltacht with very Basic Irish ) I feel the use of this issue is only really to bug other people ,Not that I want the road signs changed I like the italic ,it means I am home but I would not like to see it in the North and in fact don't care for the Irish road names that have appeared in Belfast it is a insult to some and not needed .
@@5888max Why St Patrick's Saltire thought? Its discount alabama, what colour do you think of when you think of Ireland? Green or even Blue id accept i cant see the saltire representing ireland again no offence
@@FionanOMurchadha No offence taken ( or indeed intended by any thing I have said myself ) I like the association with the name of St Patrick who predates any of the divisions that might have later arisen , although I am aware the flag is of more recent vintage. But to be honest it is also strongly personal from following the Rugby team and the Irish football team ( now normally called Northern Ireland, although its not ) from a early age it was the flag always show in newspapers to represent them
Kinda silly, like Belarus and Russia having a debate to 'make sense' of reuniting Ukraine with it's motherland.
Scorched and burnt
It is of no advantage to us in the south the north is an economic basket case(GDP 63 Bn US dollars ) edication is miles behind third level participation is very low,entrepeneurship is also low and the british government has to bail it out to the tune of 10bn every year
What are your 'edication' qualifications?
@@taintabird23 I don't need any edication quals to do a little research on FOI
In a united Ireland you would have better control of your borders. You would have a better chance of keeping drugs out of Ireland, you would have one strategy to deal with epidemics instead of two and the extra trade would outstrip any bailout.
@@doniehurley7634 I'm glad I've established what I'm dealing with. Thanks for your honesty.
You know you and your little research are up against a University Professor and his considerable research, right?
@@taintabird23 Dispute any of these facts my (childish undereducated comments) if you can contradict them I will bough to your superior knowledge my learned friend
What will happen the people of the Commonwealth and the British people born in GB living in the north if there was a united Ireland. Unionist and British people born in the north will have their rights protected under the GFA, but British and commonwealth people born outside the island have no such guarantee.
Questions will have to be answered as
Can they stay in a united Ireland? and can they stand in Irish elections.
If not why should they vote for a united Ireland? They stand at around 10% of the population of the north most are of voting age, making them a higher percentage of the voting age population. If you took them out of the equation Nationalist would have enough votes to outvote Unionist, if not now then very soon.
With this 10% and growing block of commonwealth and British citizens, with no reason to vote for a united Ireland and every reason to vote against it, it would mean the ratio of Nationalist to Unionist would need to be in and around 60/40 to achieve a united Ireland
'What will happen the people of the Commonwealth and the British people born in GB living in the north if there was a united Ireland. Unionist and British people born in the north will have their rights protected under the GFA, but British and commonwealth people born outside the island have no such guarantee'
Why not? British people in the republic already have more rights than many other immigrants. Why would it be different for those in NI in the event of unity? To my knowledge, at the present time they can stand and vote in elections for every position except President. Why President? Because Irish people cannot vote for the Head of State in the UK.
Ireland joining the Commonwealth may accommodate that section of the community in terms of reciprocal rights, but I don't know enough about it to be sure. The British side of things is already accommodated as far as I can tell.
People who wish to be British born in the North will be able to stand in elections to the Dail were the British people who are born in the rest of the UK and people born in the commonwealth will not.
We have a SDLP councillor and an Allieance Party MLA who were born in commonwealth countries, who would no longer be able to take part in politics. They would get a vote but would no longer be able to stand for elections. So they rights would be diminished unless there were changes to the Irish constitution
With Ireland having such a small population, Could it make such a change that would allow people born in Britain and the commonwealth to stand in elections? Could it open up the chance of a British politican to become Taoiseach?
Your knowledge is wrong, you must be an Irish citizen over 21 to stand in a general election.
@@taintabird23
Thought provoking. Apart from symbolism, a United Ireland, even in an integrated model, will lose nothing by joining the Commonwealth, indeed will gain the commercial and political benefits of association as well as sporting. I'd have thought that t he Retention of British citizenship and a devolved Parliament are danger points, for heaven's sake, the devolved parliament under British model can't attract commitment. I don't blame the citizens of the Republic being cautious of the loyalist minority, the Brits can't control them.
The Commonwealth is a dying concept. How could it not be such, being based upon a long dead empire. India is now the powerhouse of that group of nations that is currently called The Commonwealth. Anyway, why on earth would Ireland want to join with a symbolic relic of invasion, occupation and colonialism? It wouldn’t make sense.
The question is how are you going to preserve the rights of British citizens in the north and insure that both identities are treated equal and give them parity of esteem. A devolved assembly in the north may be the only way to ensure this Happens. The Irish government have giving these commitments in the GFA. Would the Irish constitution be able to adapt to allow British citizens to run as TDs?
The North could stay in the commonwealth, if it wants, but that will be up to the Northern Assembly or a referendum in the north. The windsor framework could stay in place with Irish or EU officials policing it. If the EU allows this.
@@edwardandrews4087”The question is …”I can’t see the Dail agreeing to a fully devolved NI parliament
well Leo Varadkar at least said it could happen, and the Irish government made commitments in the GFA that are going to be hard to live up to. For the sake of peace and to protect peoples rights in the north or not to deminish peoples rights in the north, I can't see it being a bad idea.
Another question is will the nationalist in the north accept it @@angusmckenzie9622
@@edwardandrews4087 : The simple truth is that the portion of the province Ulster that still remains under British administration can’t be anything other than fully integrated as an integral part of an all Ireland entity. Nothing else will work or be acceptable to the people of Ireland. And remember, it is all the people of Ireland that are relevant here, not just a section of the population that live in a two thirds section of Ulster.
I can't see a unified Ireland myself, at least not for at least another 50 yrs. The ongoing decline in Unionist power is a good thing for both Unionists and Nationalists - Unionism has grown very Right wing and conservative with a Nazi style outlook on life which is very off putting to young and liberal Unionists. The only thing that defines DUP style unionists is that they are anti-Irish and anti- everything that being Irish stands for. This is not a way to define yourself!! As unionist lose power in North this will hopefully force Unionists to reflect more about themselves and their identity and will hopefully force a more liberal Unionist identity to come out
United in what??
Reunited in politics.
N Ireland is a secterian bastard failed statelet.
The majority on the island want reunification.
Exactly. That's why terms like "shared island" are being bandied about these days. No thanks.
United in ending British interference on the island of Ireland.
In governance.
@@user-fz3il5zo6w Reunited.
Ireland was 1 country before the British sundered it in creating the bastard statelet
The Republic of Ireland don't need to rejoin the British commonwealth, but there is no reason that the north can't stay in it
The north won't exist
Well apart from the fact northern nationalists wont stand for it.
Northern Ireland won’t exist in a 32 county Republic of Ireland.
I would rather die roaring in a fire to joining the british commonwealth
@@doniehurley7634 if you live in the north you are already in the commonwealth, you are under British rule and your children are given British citizenship why you or they like it or not. You must agree that the best way to achieve a united Ireland is to persuade small u Unionist to buy into it.
Northern Irish don't want anything to do with the baby bombers 💯🇬🇧👍
There's more Catholics in the North so makes sense for unifacation ,,,, nobody cares about loylists there a dieing breed
UVF were terrorists as well lady, and the IRA doesn't represent me or my nation.
Most northern Irish Unionists and Loyalists dont want an United Ireland, not all of the people of Northern Ireland.
They can stay left behind if they want but demographics will soon bring about a United Ireland with or without them.,
Most nationalists didn't support the PIRA. You can do a lot of Whataboutery regarding terrorist activity on the "loyalist" side and indeed British security forces.
@fintonmainz7845 literally I think it's the modern concensus that even though most nationalists sing Celtic Symphony that doesn't mean they support the ra of the 60s it could be the heroic ra of 1919
you cant do it and flood the place with invaders from other countrys
Countries
The corruption and gas-lighting about the history and situation in Northern Ireland is way, way out of control, targeted mainly at an international audience, the young and gullible. The situation is so bad that even people in Northern Ireland are getting confused about its history, but even with that confusion there is no appetite for the self-destruction that unification with the Republic of Ireland would bring. Even Republicans have given up advocating a straight forward unification, as the consequences would be so absurd, they are now demanding a fantasy ”new Ireland”. The last time that was raised led to civil war. The working and middle class in Northern Ireland are far better off than their counterparts in the Republic of Ireland in spite of the Republics leprechaun wealth.
*Northern Ireland has always had a healthy growing catholic population, so it’s doing something right. The Republic of Irelands Protestant population has dropped to 3% from 11%, but Northern Ireland has the problem, just a little perverse.
*The three Ulster counties the Republic of Ireland insisted on retaining because of their catholic majority have had catastrophic demographic decreases of between 60 to 75%, but again apparently Northern Ireland have the Issues. Ask the citizens in Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan about this fantasy Republic of Ireland.
*Northern Ireland was stolen from the Republic of Ireland. Hang on, there has never been a united Ireland other than after Ulster was forcibly conquered, which was long after the Southern Kingdom’s, by the British. Northern Ireland was subsequently ruled by a not very Irish puppet "English Pale" Dublin Government who managed the Ulster Plantations and later directly from London. Northern Ireland doesn’t need unification, if it is between unification and independence, it needs to be Independence, from everyone, so leave it alone. A few examples out of very, very many instances, but an independent commission would be very useful to establish the actual historical facts for all the Irish people about Northern Ireland and the false flag activities of the Dublin government in its recent difficulties.
The very least all country’s should agree on is their history, when that is corrupted it can lead to dire consequences as the tragic situation in Ukraine has demonstrated. Automatic fixed referendum frequency would also be useful, held every 75 years unless cancelled democratically, to stop the unification issue and history being weaponised or gas-lighted in future.
Propaganda harms the Northern Irish economy and people, so should stop. The facts are, that statistically only an average 24% of Northern Irish citizens even self-identify as Nationalist, while in practice, even fewer than that would be willing to vote for unification, as the negative financial impact on their quality of life and demographic future would be massive, just look at the three Ulster counties in the Republic, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.
The remaining 77% of Northern Irish include, non-aligned, DUP, TUV, Alliance Unionists and NICA and have all consistently resisted the many, sometimes extreme pressures applied historically, determined to stay independent from the Republic of Ireland as they simply don’t like what they see, how they behave, have seen or what would be waiting for them.
The Northern Irish have a socialist bias in their health and economic infrastructure, diametrically opposite to the Republic of Ireland’s American style, hustle, tax haven, and leprechaun economics with a massive wealth gap. Already imposing a horrific demographic, infrastructure, social, tax, cost of living and investment impact Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal, the three Ulster counties that the Republic of Ireland control, already driving the Ulster working class population out, not very inviting. Those facts don't sell newspapers or get views. Think this is exaggerating, delusionary, check the facts, you will be surprised. Contrary to the current Irish Republican gas-lighting being Non-aligned in Northern Ireland does not mean you will vote for unification, you are more likely to be interested in independence.
Secular independence not unification is by far the more democratic, prosperous and historically accurate way forward, with by far the most potential for the Northern Irish, opening up opportunities for the Northern Irish such as joining the EU as an independent country and getting the benefits of its close proximity to the UK, very unusually, actually getting the significant benefits of joining the EU as an independent country but also at a cut down subscription, all for itself. Not the grossly inflated subscription the Republic pays. All this without removing or even reducing the democratic viability of any longer term future aspirations that the Northern Irish citizen might have. Coincidentally, also giving an independent Northern Irish government far greater bargaining power to safeguard its citizens in any future negotiations they might decide to take part in, as an independent country. Interested in facts download our android app in google play or visit us in UA-cam, Tick Tok or Facebook.
northern ireland is an imperialistic carve out of a an ancient country. Unionists HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A MINIORITY in ireland , youse have no god given right to have your own country because your own country already exists - its called scotland
You cannot even agree on your history in NI - the Ulster Museum has yet to tackle the Troubles in its exhibitions in any meaningful way.
There is no such thing as true or 'agreed' history, only perspectives. The fact is, what was essentially good for the British on this island was often to the detriment of the majority. The reverse is also, quite often, true. Both points of view are equally valid. Refusing to accept that makes YOU the problem, and that applies to both sides, green and orange.
There is a great deal of self serving nonsense in your deeply prejudiced post, but the climax is perfect - the notion that NI could be a functioning independent state when has yet to convince anyone that it can run a devolved government. You never mentioned that. It takes the biscuit, but 'independence' is a commonly heard among unionist fearing unity. Of course there is an absence of the economic arguments against independence you no doubt peddled when you opposed Scottish independence. The fact is, there is no option for independence in the GFA: it is the status quo or unity. You need to make the status quo work.
Economic problems in Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal are caused by a stupid border. And even with that, the living standards in those counties now surpass those of NI. The Ulster Scots in Monaghan can expect to live considerably longer that their counterparts north of the border, have a higher minimum wage and higher wages and salaries, even with the higher prices. Why do the go shopping in the North? It leaves them with even more money. You never mentioned that.
There is no 'considerable wealth gap' when compared with NI and the UK which has roughly 5% of the population meeting the definition of being destitute. It is probably higher in NI because it is the poorest part of the UK. School drop out rates are double that of the republic, creating a permanent underclass of ignorant unskilled unhappy people who are unrepresented by anybody. You never mentioned that.
In a couple of years time, if they ever finish the new Childrens hospital in Dublin, you will be sending your kids there for treatment because it will be the only hospital of its type on the island. You never mentioned that. You will still depend on Dublin Airport for connectivity. You never mentioned that.
I don't care if there is a united Ireland in the future or not, but if you are going to build an argument against it you could try using some facts instead of the nonsense you posted above. If you are not going to be honest with yourself about history or about how far the NI has fallen behind the RoI then you are going to have to keep defending your position from a place of weakness. We know you feel superior to us in the south by dint of your religion, or being British or whatever, - the reality is, it only exists in your heads. You are no better than the rest of us.
You can make yourself Believe anything Reality is totally different
Started watching this thinking that a Professor might actually put forward an objective view. Nope, just lop-sided wishful thinking. No mention of the surge in E. Europeans bolstering the number of Catholics, for example. UI is a long way off yet.
I hope you all realise a United Ireland has detrimental effects. If Brits out of Ireland is completed. I will insist Ireland out of Britain is completed. The Common Travel Area will eject a United Ireland because Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man are British Citizens and hold British Passports. R.O.I. aren't and don't.
we don't give a shit
@jeffsmith " I hope you all realise a United Ireland has detrim..." I've run into your expression of English nationalism in similar threads. I take it that there's a sizeable number similarly opposed to the continuation of the Common Travel Area, some go a bit further and advocate non English to leave England and return too Ireland, Scotland and Wales. I expect that the preferences of those living on the island of Ireland will over ride the fears of those living in England.
@@angusmckenzie9622The CTA is a colonial hangover that has no place in the modern world.
@@jmccullough662 it strikes me as being mutually advantageous to the citizens of both nations, like the arrangements between Australia and New Zealand.
So, are you somebody important, that can insist on stuff…..?
What a foolish man. He talks of unity but bases his argument on the Catholic/ Protestant division. A catholic majority may result in a territorial unification but this is not unity. The anti-British ethos of the Irish state means that there will never, ever be Irish unity. Most unionists have no sense of an Irish identity and as an ethnic political group they are strong enough to make Irish political arrangements irrelevant and perpetually unstable.
You realize that Irish Unity is simply one nation state on the island, unionists can be left behind if that's their choice. But if they stay living on the island they will pay their taxes to the Irish state and live under Irish state laws whether they like it or not.
He’s a foolish man cos his research doesn’t fit in with what you want🙄
@@RazorMouth dream on. English taxpayers have paid enough. It’s time for the Irish taxpayer to step up to the plate. I don’t think you will find the US or the EU too keen to spend that type of money. Lol.
@@joemdee Ohh dear. Come back to me when you've a clue.
Your unionists make up 11% of the island.
What money are you talking about?
Why would it cost a lot of money to extend our territory and systems of governance out to 6 more counties.
NI will not be run like the UK runs it.
No duplication of services, it will just be more of the Republic.
Might cost something for a few years but that's it. And to say the UK won't contribute to that is laughable, the 11% are your fkin citizens.
It also says in the GFA that the UK will assist NI with unity if they vote for it, that means ££££
@@RazorMouth it doesn’t mean ££££s. There is no mention of financing or contributing to the great big Irish begging bowl in the GFA. If you want to force UK citizens into your poxy little state you will have to pay for it yourselves.
Did you ever wonder if Ireland is economically viable as a state? It’s already massively in hock to the Bundesbank has no meaningful NHS, a national housing crisis,and a migrant problem and now you propose taking on more debt and all the costs associated with a civil disobedience campaign or an insurgency which will inevitably happen. Just being the EU cheerleaders doesn’t mean you will get more money from Brussels.
United in nationhood